Autre Temps

Alcest's song 'Autre Temps' is a poetic reflection on the passage of time and the enduring nature of the natural world. The lyrics, sung in French, evoke a sense of nostalgia and melancholy as they describe the cyclical patterns of nature and the transient nature of human existence. The opening lines, 'Une prière lointaine que porte le vent du soir / Anime les feuilles dans leur danse alanguie,' set a serene and contemplative tone, suggesting a distant prayer carried by the evening wind that animates the leaves in their languid dance. This imagery creates a vivid picture of the natural world in motion, yet also hints at a deeper, almost spiritual connection between nature and the human experience.

The song continues with 'C'est le chant des vieux arbres entonné pour toi / Pour ces bois obscurs maintenant endormis,' which translates to 'It is the song of the old trees sung for you / For these dark woods now asleep.' Here, the trees are personified, singing a song for the listener, perhaps as a reminder of the ancient and enduring presence of nature. The 'dark woods now asleep' suggests a sense of dormancy and quietude, reinforcing the theme of cycles and the passage of time.

As the song progresses, the lyrics 'Sans nous attendre tant de saisons ont passé / Les feuilles dorées s'en allant mourir à terre' reflect on the relentless march of time, with many seasons passing without waiting for us. The golden leaves falling to the ground symbolize the inevitable decay and renewal inherent in nature. The lines 'Renaîtront un jour sous un ciel radieux / Mais notre monde érodé restera le même' offer a glimmer of hope, suggesting that the leaves will be reborn under a radiant sky, yet our eroded world will remain unchanged. The final line, 'Et demain toi et moi serons partis,' poignantly concludes the song with the acknowledgment that both the listener and the singer will one day be gone, underscoring the transient nature of human life in contrast to the enduring cycles of nature.